Exploring Edinburgh

Plan for today revolved around the energy levels of the girls. By 10am we were out the door heading for the #22 bus hoping to end up close to Calton Hill. Located at the northeastern end of town, one is treated to wonderful views of the old and new town, the Castle, the Palace as well as the undulating hills of Holyrood Park including Arthurs Seat and Salisbury Crags.

On exiting the bus, we were lucky to stumble across a great little coffee shop. Now we all know Andy is slightly obsessed about coffee and here in the UK, he has gone about adapting his orders (or telling the barista how to make a coffee) so as to get a decent cup. Well this little place got a 7/10 which sounds average but trust me I think it ranks as the best since leaving home!

After a short walk including several flights of stairs we found ourselves at the top of Calton Hill. We explored the monuments - Nelson monument (Admiral Horatio Nelson from Battle of Trafalgar), Dugald Stewart monument (a Scottish philosopher), Scottish National monument (an unfinished parthenon to honour soldiers and sailors who died during the Napoleonic Wars), an observatory (or two) and a Vigil for the Scottish Parliament monument!

Sheltering slightly from the wind on the southern side of the hill, we enjoyed the sunshine and views while we ate our lunch and then watched the girls play in the long grass.

Next stop was the Our Dynamic Earth, an interactive journey through the past, present and into the future of our planet recommended by friends. Beginning with the state of the earth as we know it, we watched natural weather phenomena and created our own earthquake, were shown population growth and explored the concept of time.

We were ushered into the time machine to journey back 15,000 million years. The girls were unsure of this.....the time machine was a darkened lift whose walls lit up with images relevant to the journey backwards while we descended a floor or so.

Emerging from the time machine, we walked onto the bridge of the spaceship. The viewing windows opened to reveal space. Here we witnessed the big bang, watched galaxies form followed by our solar system and the birth of earth.

Our guide, whisked us out of the spaceship and introduced us to the next section - volcanoes. Ella blankly refused to enter the darkened room. Luckily there was a secret-avoid-the-volcanoes side door which I accompanied Ella through. Katy, who was in Andy's arms, was willing to go into the volcano room. That bravery was short lived when a minute later, they emerged through the same door Ella and I had just come through!!

We entered a bright, cool, craggy ice cave (from the wrong door) only to be taken on a flight over the glaciers and landscape of Norway and Scotland to demonstrate how our environment has been shaped by ice. We all finally were able to relax and enjoy something!

In Casualties and Survivors, we followed the path of evolution and saw many examples those animal now extinct. Thunderous waves could be heard coming from the adjoining room. As we get closer both girls become slightly anxious with these loud sounds. However on peeping around the corner they become intrigued by the many porthole displays about our marine environment and forget about the noise.

Our journey then takes us to the polar regions. Centred in this vivid blue room is an enormous chunk of ice. The girls loved to feel the icy cold sensation. We saw life beneath the ice as well as the Aurora Borealis. We left this cold environment for a short flight to the rainforest.

This 3D film (with 4D special effects) was the highlight of the tour. We flew like a raptor, only just escaped the sting of a scorpion (with both girls jumping in fright), came face to face with a rhino and felt the snow (yes actual snowflakes) from an arctic blizzard! Arriving at our final destination the rainforest, we spot an orang-utan, komodo dragon and a leopard hidden amongst the vegetation.

Taking about an hour, the tour was interesting and nothing like we have experienced before, however I think our girls were a little too young as they spent a large portion of time in our arms wide eyed wondering if they were going to survive!

Finished the day off with a spot of shopping before heading home for our last night in Edinburgh.